Europe dismayed as US weighs auto tariffs

According to the DIHK, autos and parts accounted for nearly 29b euros of Germany’s 111.5b euros
in exports to the United States last year

AFP

The European Union and German automakers reacted with dismay Thursday after the US said tariffs on car imports could be on the horizon, potentially opening a new front in a burgeoning transatlantic trade conflict, reports AFP from Frankfurt Am Main.

American Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross on Wednesday raised the threat of car tariffs when he said he had initiated an investigation into whether auto imports “are weakening our internal economy and may impair the national security.”

The move came after President Donald Trump tweeted there was “big news coming soon for our great American

autoworkers”.

The European Union, which has been lobbying feverishly to remain exempt from US border taxes on steel and aluminium ahead of a June 1 deadline, expressed surprise at the latest White House announcement.

“It is very difficult to imagine (car imports) create any sort of threat to the national security so it is very difficult to understand,” European Commission Vice President Jyrki Katainen said in Brussels.

The sentiment was echoed by German luxury carmaker BMW, which said “barrier-free access to markets” was key to global growth and employment.

With German carmakers set to be among those hit hardest the possible car tariffs, the German Chambers of Commerce and Industry (DIHK) said the US move “should almost be seen as a provocation”.

According to the DIHK, autos and parts accounted for nearly 29 billion euros ($34 billion) of Germany’s 111.5 billion euros in exports to the United States last year.

But although German carmakers exported nearly half a million vehicles to the US in 2017, they actually built over 800,000 vehicles at American factories where they employ some 36,500 people—and car parts producers around 80,000 more.

Shares in Volkswagen, BMW and Mercedes-Benz maker Daimler were among the worst performers in the DAX index of blue-chip German shares in afternoon trading Thursday.

Imposing car tariffs would open yet another front in the Republican president’s confrontational rows over trade that have drawn global outcry from allies and partners.

“Evidence of significant economic damage due to the trade conflict is mounting,” tweeted economist Marcel Fratzscher of the DIW think-tank in Berlin.

“The Trump administration now adding new threats with tariffs on European cars could make things a lot worse.”

The latest announcement comes as negotiations with Canada and Mexico over revamping the continent-wide North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) have stalled over auto demands.

Trump had earlier blamed the US neighbours to the north and south for being “difficult” in talks to renegotiate the pact.

The contrast with a Thursday visit by German Chancellor Angela Merkel to Chinese premier Li Keqiang could not have been starker.

“China and Germany are on the path of promoting multilateralism and bolstering free trade,” Merkel said in Beijing.

Japan was also quick to voice concern about the prospect of US car tariffs, with trade minister Hiroshige Seko saying such levies would “plunge the world market into confusion” and be “extremely regrettable.”

Passenger cars make up around 30 percent of Japan’s total exports to the United States and Tokyo has already threatened Washington with retaliation at the World Trade Organization for the steel tariffs.

The Wall Street Journal reported earlier Wednesday that Trump was asking for vehicle import tariffs as high as 25 percent.

Europe dismayed as US weighs auto tariffs

According to the DIHK, autos and parts accounted for nearly 29b euros of Germanys 111.5b euros
in exports to the United States last year

AFP

The European Union and German automakers reacted with dismay Thursday after the US said tariffs on car imports could be on the horizon, potentially opening a new front in a burgeoning transatlantic trade conflict, reports AFP from Frankfurt Am Main.
American Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross on Wednesday raised the threat of car tariffs when he said he had initiated an investigation into whether auto imports are weakening our internal economy and may impair the national security.
The move came after President Donald Trump tweeted there was big news coming soon for our great American
autoworkers.
The European Union, which has been lobbying feverishly to remain exempt from US border taxes on steel and aluminium ahead of a June 1 deadline, expressed surprise at the latest White House announcement.
It is very difficult to imagine (car imports) create any sort of threat to the national security so it is very difficult to understand, European Commission Vice President Jyrki Katainen said in Brussels.
German car behemoth Volkswagen condemned Washingtons one-sided protectionism, saying only free and fair trade secures increased prosperity.
The sentiment was echoed by German luxury carmaker BMW, which said barrier-free access to markets was key to global growth and employment.
With German carmakers set to be among those hit hardest the possible car tariffs, the German Chambers of Commerce and Industry (DIHK) said the US move should almost be seen as a provocation.
According to the DIHK, autos and parts accounted for nearly 29 billion euros ($34 billion) of Germanys 111.5 billion euros in exports to the United States last year.
But although German carmakers exported nearly half a million vehicles to the US in 2017, they actually built over 800,000 vehicles at American factories where they employ some 36,500 peopleand car parts producers around 80,000 more.
Shares in Volkswagen, BMW and Mercedes-Benz maker Daimler were among the worst performers in the DAX index of blue-chip German shares in afternoon trading Thursday.
Imposing car tariffs would open yet another front in the Republican presidents confrontational rows over trade that have drawn global outcry from allies and partners.
Evidence of significant economic damage due to the trade conflict is mounting, tweeted economist Marcel Fratzscher of the DIW think-tank in Berlin.
The Trump administration now adding new threats with tariffs on European cars could make things a lot worse.
The latest announcement comes as negotiations with Canada and Mexico over revamping the continent-wide North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) have stalled over auto demands.
Trump had earlier blamed the US neighbours to the north and south for being difficult in talks to renegotiate the pact.
The contrast with a Thursday visit by German Chancellor Angela Merkel to Chinese premier Li Keqiang could not have been starker.
China and Germany are on the path of promoting multilateralism and bolstering free trade, Merkel said in Beijing.
Japan was also quick to voice concern about the prospect of US car tariffs, with trade minister Hiroshige Seko saying such levies would plunge the world market into confusion and be extremely regrettable.
Passenger cars make up around 30 percent of Japans total exports to the United States and Tokyo has already threatened Washington with retaliation at the World Trade Organization for the steel tariffs.
The Wall Street Journal reported earlier Wednesday that Trump was asking for vehicle import tariffs as high as 25 percent.

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